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QUALITY | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
Interior materials look and feel budget grade
ConsumerGuide
Lots of hard plastic inside the cabin
Car and Driver
Plenty of passenger room, and grab handles on the A-pillar assist with entry
MyRide.com
The 2009 Dodge Dakota offers more interior space than nearly all of its competitors, but it falls behind in terms of materials and construction quality.
The two different cab styles of the 2009 Dodge Dakota bring two different seating capacities—according to ConsumerGuide, Extended Cabs "seat up to five," while "three-abreast rear seating" in Crew Cabs helps them "seat up to six." Edmunds reports that the "Dakota's cabin is quite roomy, but even so we strongly recommend moving up to the Quad Cab if you regularly carry four or more adults." ConsumerGuide agrees, noting that "only two adults will fit comfortably" in the back, where "headroom and legroom is adequate for adults under 6 ft, but taller riders will want more legroom."
In terms of utility, the 2009 Dodge Dakota is a true standout. The interior is packed with storage goodies, including Dodge's "under-seat Crate 'N Go storage," according to Cars.com. Edmunds reviewers love the "handy new storage bin over the glovebox," which is perfect for storing electronics, while MyRide.com points out that the Dodge Dakota offers "a plethora of cubbies and nooks." Out back, the utility is diminished somewhat, warns Edmunds, by the fact that the Quad Cab "has a short 5-foot, 4-inch bed and Dodge offers neither a longer bed length nor a factory bed extender."
Aside from inflexible bed length arrangements, another downside to the Dodge Dakota is poor overall quality. ConsumerGuide says that the "interior materials look and feel budget grade," especially the "hard, shiny plastic [that] covers most surfaces." Car and Driver similarly disparages the "hard plastic inside the cabin," while Edmunds reports that "quality remains unimpressive when compared to the segment leaders."
On the positive side, Dodge has managed to craft a surprisingly quiet cabin for the 2009 Dodge Dakota. ConsumerGuide reviewers claim that "road noise is impressively hushed," and Cars.com adds that "the roomy cab is arguably quieter on the road than other compact trucks."
Conclusion
The 2009 Dodge Dakota offers storage aplenty but sacrifices quality on the way.
